Panagia Church (Koimiseos tis Theotokou)

The Church of the Assumption is located in the historic district of Panagia, within the walls of the peninsula, where half of the inhabitants and families who lived during the Turkish occupation were Greek Orthodox Christians. In this small district, those Greeks who lived during the years of slavery had the morale of the Christian faith so deep that it operated since then a monastery in the same place where today the temple is built, in which Saint Philotheos of Kavalan even lived near his mother. 

The church was built in 1957 in the same place that was from the 15th century the old one, which had become ramshackle and precarious. It is cruciform with a dome. The bell tower belongs to the old building of the church and was incorporated above the narthex of the new church. 

Inside the church have been formed two chapels, St. Fanourios and Saint Filotheos of Kavala. The hagiographer G. Karpotinis took care of the hagiography of the interior, following with precision the Byzantine tradition both in the classification and in the technique of the narration of the subjects. 

The Church is built in a prominent position at the southernmost end of the triangular peninsula of the Old Town, which has the name "Panagia" from the homonymous Church, and along with almost all the houses of the settlement, with the peculiar architecture and the Egyptian vakoufia that exist, attract the interest of the pilgrims of the Virgin Mary and foreign visitors.

Name: Panagia Church (Koimiseos tis Theotokou)

All areas and features related to performing religious acts (icons, furniture with candles, pray spaces, etc.) are always at the viewing zone and at the reach of wheelchair users too.

There is space for wheelchairs to be situated within the congregation.

The sanctuary is free of steps and accessible to wheelchair users.

It is possible for all to reach the area(s) where various services and tasks take place (e.g., such as for paperwork of various religious ceremonies, communion receivings, etc.).

There is a sound system used.

There is good lighting to support those who lip read.

Note: Assistant dogs are not allowed.

There is no informational and/or religion-related material that is made available in alternative accessible formats.

There is a an outdoor area open to the public.

Accessibility information about the:

Main Entry/Exit

It is not claimed to be an accessible entry/exit point.

Note: There are not appropriate signs directing the visitors to it.

The walking surface is slip-resistant, stable and firm enough, including for wheelchair users.

Caution: The walking surface has non-tolerable distortions (longer than 0,5 cm, higher than 2 cm).

Note: The entrance is not sheltered.

Caution: The entrance is not suitable for wheelchair users.

Caution: The door is not suitable for persons with restricted mobility and wheelchair users.

There exist reception desks, service booths or cashiers, which are accessible to wheelchairs users.

At the existing desks/service booths/cashiers always there is proper lighting and layout which allow for good visual contact, so deaf persons can easily read the lips of the staff.

Caution: There is printed material with information for visitors made available but it is not made available in alternative accessible formats for various categories of readers with disabilities.

Note: The staff assigned to welcome/inform the visitors has not received any training on the needs of and on how to serve persons with disability.

Caution: There dangerous areas/parts without appropriate safety fences/railings.

• Th. Poulidou 69, Kavala 65201 
• +30 2510 224527 & 222159
• www.im-philippon.gr